XenZone are pioneers of online counselling in the UK and our vision is to lead the way in using digital technology to remove barriers to achieving emotional and mental health. We are working with over 40 local authorities, CCGs, mental health trusts and charities to ensure it’s easy and safe for all generations to access the best emotional and mental health services as and when they need.

Since being founded in 2001 we have helped over 95,000 young people and adults through our online support platforms, Kooth, for children and young people, and Qwell, for adults. Our team of counsellors, support workers and therapists are professionally qualified and operate under close clinical supervision to deliver the highest quality service to our users.

Funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund Kent County Council through HeadStart, Kent has been successful in securing a national five-year programme aimed at preventing thousands of children from experiencing common mental health problems. XenZone have been successfully commissioned through this programme to provide their Kooth online counselling and support service to young people. This will be a phased approach encompassing much of Kent over a four year period. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join a dynamic organisation and be part of an exciting new project in Kent.

We are seeking to employ a part-time Integration and Participation Worker who will work with children, young people, professionals and stakeholders, for 21 hours per week. The successful candidate will deliver presentations, training sessions and group work to small and large audiences, working effectively in networks and with partners to ensure that our Kooth service is promoted and embedded as part of local pathways and integrated services.

Job Summary: To ensure that the new Kooth service is fully integrated into our clients settings across the Kent region and that the needs of local young people (10-16 years old) are being met by the service.

The post holder will work predominantly from home. The post requires extensive travel within the Kent region.

Main responsibilities:

To deliver presentations about the Kooth service to small groups and large audiences including; young people, professionals and other stakeholders.

To deliver training to youth workers, teachers, and other front line workers on how Kooth works.

To market Kooth to schools, colleges, youth services and other stakeholders.

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with services that have contact with young people to ensure awareness of service and engagement of target groups.

Attending local network and partnership meetings, giving feedback on how the Kooth service is operating and feeding back to the Kooth Service Manager local issues and agendas regarding the needs of Children and Young People.

Identifying with the commissioners the local authority partners in the area (such as CAMHS, young people’s drug and alcohol teams) and to establish pathways into other services.

To feedback information regarding local pathways to the Kooth Service Manager and Kooth team. Keeping the electronic pathways directory up to date and relevant.

To have a clear grasp of the agenda driving our customers/commissioners. Feeding this back to the MD, Service Manager and Locality Managers and being part of the team that ensures what we are delivering is effective and relevant.

To deliver issue-based sessions to young people in school and community settings.

To encourage young people to participate in the design and development of Kooth services through collating feedback and facilitating focus groups.

To attend team meetings, as required and attend any other meeting requested by Xenzone Management.

To be aware and knowledgeable of the Contracts which exist in each area of the country and be able to assist the Managing Director and Counselling Service Manager in Contract Compliance and to assist in providing information for Commissioners in all areas.

To take the lead for integration planning and activity in new Kooth areas.

To safeguard young people and refer on, when appropriate.

To work as part of the Cluster team for this region and respond to reasonable requests to address work allocations across this region.

To undertake any requests made by the XenZone Management Team which are relevant to the post of Integration Worker.

Essential candidate criteria:

A relevant professional qualification in youth work, teaching, mental health, counselling, or psychotherapy.

Experience working with young people (10-16) in face to face settings.

Evidence of your capability to deliver group work, presentations and training to different types and sizes of audiences.

Knowledge and understanding of adolescent development, the issues and inequalities they face, and a commitment to improving their emotional well-being.

Ability to positively, proactively, and professionally communicate and engage with a variety of people in different settings.

The above position is subject to a successful Disclosure and Barring Service check as part of recruitment procedure.

It would also be advantageous to the role to either be a Kent resident, possess work experience within Kent or to be active in the Kent community.

BENEFITS

In return we offer a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of innovative counselling services within a highly supportive and highly experienced peer group, where you will have the opportunity to embed mental health services in your community. Along with a competitive salary of £25,000 FTE (pro-rata 21 hours per week), 36 days pro-rata annual leave entitlement (including bank holidays), you will benefit from a proactive commitment to continued learning through extensive training and development programmes.

Closing date: 8th September 2017

Interviews: 20th / 21st September 2017 (may be subject to change)

XenZone aspires to create a diverse workforce that appropriately represents the communities we operate within. Therefore, for this role, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates as they are currently under-represented in our organisation.